Livingston Co. eyed for food processing firms

PONTIAC — Livingston County may be a perfect spot for food processing and manufacturing firms, based on results from a countywide survey of business leaders.

Larry Vaupel, CEO of the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council, plans to target those industries in the coming year in hopes that someone will locate a plant and add jobs to the market.

The 25-question survey garnered 75 responses from business leaders in Pontiac, Fairbury, Dwight, Saunemin and Cullom.

“We learned several things and gained a better insight into our county’s strength and weaknesses,” Vaupel said during the council’s annual meeting last week. “We also found some things that were very encouraging and some things to work on.”

Location, availability of land and proximity to markets were the top three reasons to do business in Livingston County, the survey showed.